Useful Tips for Selling on eBay

Selling online is indeed a lucrative and exciting journey to venture on. When you think of becoming an ecommerce seller, the question of where to start from accompanies the thought of where you should start selling. Fortunately, the option of using multichannel listings tools and multichannel selling software allows you to display your products on multiple platforms. From there, you can make use of helpful tools such as an inventory management software, dropshipping automation, order management tools, and so on, in order to make the task of ecommerce selling easier.

Of the numerous digital platforms you can choose to sell on, eBay is definitely one of the most reputed and popular ones. Not only does eBay has 1.3 billion listings, it also has 182 million active buyers. Therefore, having your products displayed on eBay automatically increases the chances of sales and conversions.

It’s often easy to get a little intimidated at the thought of being an ecommerce seller on a platform as big as eBay. However, if you’re aware of a few tips and tricks of the trade, the process does become easier. Looking forward to becoming a seller on eBay? Read on to know the small things you need to remember when selling on eBay.

Tips for eBay Sellers

Known to provide free listings for up to 50 items, eBay also gives an affordable package for larger sellers. Regardless of whether you’re just starting out on eBay or have been around for quite a while, these tips are sure to help you in being a seller on this remunerative platform:

1. Create SEO Friendly Item Descriptions

The way you craft your item descriptions makes a lot of impact on how well it’s going to sell. The same goes for your item descriptions on eBay, and the one way to make them more attractive is by making them SEO-friendly.

Search engine optimization for your eBay item descriptions isn’t just about looking up the relevant and important keywords associated with the products; it’s also about pairing them with the other related keywords that your customers might possibly look up. For example, if you’re selling a pair of shoes, you should not just talk about its color, material, and other detailed features, but also add the general tags such as the category of shoes it belongs to, etc.

2. Take High Quality Product Photos

A good photo speaks a thousand words, and this motto applies for your product photos on eBay as well. If a product photo looks presentable, the customers will automatically be drawn to it. You don’t need to have a high-end camera to take quality photos for your products; all you need is a smartphone and a few pointers that will make your photos stand out.

When clicking these product photos, it’s important to remember to take them against a neutral background, because that way the product will be displayed clearly. Also, be sure to give your customers an authentic view of the items in questions, which is why you should clearly photograph any flaws the item or items might have.

Don’t ever use stock photos for your listings. It’s easy to identify the difference between a real photo and a stock one, and going for the latter gives a bad impression about your brand. Remember to click photos of the items from multiple angles, and also clearly indicate the size of the product.

3. List Products Every Day and Not Together

Experts suggest that it’s better to list your products day-by-day instead of listing them all together. Putting up a listing every day works better than putting up multiple listings in one day, owing to how the eBay algorithm works.

If you update your inventory on a regular basis, you will have new visitors regularly, and also keep unlisted inventory at bay. You can make use of eBay’s quick listing tool to make the process of item listing quicker and easier.

4. Be Aware of Your Competitors

Being in ecommerce comes with a whole bunch of competition, which is why it’s extremely necessary to be aware of your fellow competitors in order to stay ahead in the game. If the customers find a better option elsewhere, they won’t hesitate in buying the required products from a similar online store.

For instance, if they see your competitors offering the same kind of products at a lower price, they’re bound to go for that. Fortunately, eBay has got you covered with regards to keeping an eye on your competitors. Their feature of the Seller Hub Growth Tab allows you to have insights in three different categories, namely Restock Advice, Sourcing Guidance, and Listing Improvements.

5. Find Things to Sell

The question of what to sell is for new sellers to figure out, which is why landing on the correct option is imperative. With so many items listed on eBay, it could seem intimidating to pinpoint the specific products, but it really isn’t that complicated.

The interesting thing is that the items that seem like they wouldn’t be too popular on eBay are exactly the ones that sell a lot. Some examples of those items include school supplies, empty printer cartridges, broken watches and jewelry, craft supplies, empty perfume bottles, lids from pans and pots, pantyhose, and also unopened razors, cosmetics, and batteries.

It’s better to begin by selling items that cost less than $50. This way, the pressure will be off you as a new seller. Working with inexpensive items in the beginning allows you to learn and sort out things such as shipping, solving customer queries, navigating seller dashboards, and so on. Also, make sure to choose products that are easy to ship, and avoid items that will break easily.

6. Stay Away from Selling Problematic Products

When you just start out on eBay, there will be many out there who will be waiting to pounce on you with scams. One of the best ways of saving yourself from this scenario is by avoiding high-risk items. Some of these products are electronics, designer handbags, event tickets, autographed items that don’t have a COA, and counterfeited products like expensive sunglasses, designer jeans, Ugg boots, Nike shoes, and so on.

If you do wish to sell any of these items, it’s best to first establish yourself as an authentic and reputed seller. In case you are ever caught selling a fake item, you will be suspended immediately. Therefore, never think of treading on that shady path.

7. Pick the Best Listing Type

The listing type you choose has quite a lot of impact on your seller status. Whether you go for fixed price or auction, they both have their set of pros and cons. The auctions of today aren’t like what they used to be, therefore, it’s best to keep the price low in the beginning, even if it means you get just one bid. Fixed price listings, on the other hand, could take longer to sell, but you might end up making more money if you get the right buyer.

8. Enhance Your Feedback Score

Based on your trading experience, every seller on eBay gets a feedback score. This number indicates a combination of selling as well as buying histories. When you have a lot of feedback, it helps you establish yourself as a trusted and authentic seller. Having a low feedback score affects your sales massively.

If you have fewer feedbacks on eBay since you’re new to it, what you can do is buy a few inexpensive products, so that you can receive feedback from the respective sellers. Remember to buy things that you will actually use and like. Once you receive the item, leave a feedback for the seller, and request the seller to leave a feedback for you in return. Having 20 feedbacks is a good starting point if you want to be a seller on eBay.

9. Have a Healthy Return Policy

The return policy could be a tricky subject to wrap your head around, but eBay offers that to all its buyers, so that they feel safe and confident while purchasing a product. Therefore, as a seller, all you need to do is stay ahead of your competition and make sure that your product is authentic, so that your customers won’t even feel the need to return it. In fact, offering a fair return policy only increases the trust they have in you.

If you have a return policy that’s 30 days or longer, you also get rewarded by eBay. This takes place by eBay giving your store a boost in the search results. Therefore, this aids in providing some much-needed search engine optimization as well.

Summing Up

Choosing an online platform to sell on is not too difficult these days. However, it’s important that you choose the right one, and there really is no better name than eBay. With its wide range of listings and giant customer base, you’re in good hands as a seller. Therefore, be it new sellers or veteran ones, these tips are sure to help anyone who is looking to make a profit by selling on eBay.